Chicago Bulls: 3 takeaways from Thaddeus Young deal

3. The Bulls accomplished priority number one

As I said a bit before, the Bulls’ top priority going into free agency had to be to build depth. Specifically, they needed some versatility. Ideally, depth at the wing and in the front court would be acceptable. In Young, they got both.

Young stands 6-foot-8 but can play each forward position if need be. He’s always been an athlete, giving him the ability to offer a team flexibility off the bench.

Behind Porter and Zach LaVine, the Bulls really didn’t have much before signing Young. Last year’s rookie Chandler Hutchison is still developing, and showed some positive signs later on in the year. With someone like Young in the fold, Hutchison could take another big step forward this coming season. The mentorship aspect of Young’s role should not be overlooked.

The Bulls now have a potential backup to both Markkanen and Porter, and someone who will realistically give them 20 to 25 strong minutes per night on a consistent basis. The money may have been on the more expensive side, but there are definitely some positives to his signing in Chicago.